What happened to the red roofs at Thuya?

The photo on the left of Thuya Landing with the red roof feature was taken in 2006. The photo on the right was taken in 2025. The roof was not stained red when the structure was refurbished in 2018.

Sometimes all it takes to spark a newsletter story is a curious question from a thoughtful visitor. That was the case last summer when photographer Sue Anne Hodges reached out after noticing something different at Thuya Garden, the boat landing, and the Asticou Terraces.

“I’ve been curious about some of the changes to the red paint at Thuya,” she wrote. “Since 2018, the new roof at Thuya Landing has not been stained to the traditional red color it had always been, and I keep hoping the red is not being phased out. I bet others are wondering too, and I thought it might make a good topic for the newsletter.”

Sue Anne kindly shared a range of photos she had taken over the years, some showing roofs in the iconic deep red that visitors know well; others showing shingles so weathered the red was barely visible.

Spring House, also known as the "wishing well," received new red roof shingles this fall.

The color red has been part of the Thuya Garden and Asticou Terraces palette since Joseph Curtis first conceived the landscapes in 1933. Later, Charles Savage carried this vision forward, ensuring that red-shingled roofs remained a defining feature of the garden structures. From the pavilions along the Asticou Terraces to the Spring House—once the original water source for Thuya Lodge and now a beloved “wishing well”—these touches of red have become an essential part of the character of the place.

So why do some roofs appear bright red while others look faded or nearly neutral?

One answer is simple: shingles weather. Just like cedar shingles on a home, red-stained shingles naturally lighten over time from sun, moisture, and exposure to Mount Desert Island’s coastal climate. When a roof needs replacing, the Preserve typically uses red stained shingles, maintaining the tradition that Curtis and Savage established. The brightest roofs are the newest; the softest, most faded tones mark the oldest.

Another answer is that, in recent years, some roofs have been left untreated. Decisions about whether to stain these roofs will be informed by forthcoming Cultural Landscape Reports. Those studies will take a deeper look at the history and significance of the color red at the Thuya landscapes, documenting how red was used, how it has evolved over time, and why it remains such a defining visual element of these landscapes.

Importantly, the reports will help guide future decisions about when, where, and how the color red should be used, ensuring that any changes are thoughtful, historically grounded, and true to the spirit of these iconic gardens.

In the photos above, the photo on the left of the pavilion at the far end of the garden, taken in 2013, has a vibrant red roof and gate. The photo on the right was taken in 2025, showing a faded roof and an unstained new gate.

Photos by Sue Anne Hodges

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